Rep. Andrew Ogles

Maddy summaryHR 5448, the Countering CCP Fentanyl Trafficking Act, requires the President to identify and sanction Chinese government officials who knowingly assist Mexican drug cartels with fentanyl production or trafficking. The bill mandates the President to submit a public list of these officials within 60 days of enactment, updating it annually for 10 years. Sanctions include blocking U.S. assets of listed individuals and denying them visas or entry into the United States. The law includes limited exemptions for UN-related activities and national security operations, and expires after 10 years.

Maddy summaryHR 5447, the No Alipay Act of 2023, bans all financial transactions involving Alipay (China) Internet Technology Company Limited between Alipay and "United States persons." This directly affects U.S. citizens, permanent residents, U.S.-organized businesses, and anyone physically present in the U.S. who uses Alipay for payments. The bill prohibits any financial activity, including app usage or payment processing, that involves Alipay and a U.S. person. It defines "financial transaction" broadly to cover any movement of funds or use of financial services affecting interstate or foreign commerce. The law would require U.S. persons to cease using Alipay for any transaction.

This resolution urges the House of Representatives to recognize Robert Aitken's Bible (the first known English-language Bible to be printed in North America) as a historical document of Congress.

Safeguarding Endangered Children, Unaccompanied and at Risk of Exploitation Act of 2023 or SECURE Act of 2023 This bill requires regular reports to Congress detailing the status of unaccompanied non-U.S. national ( alien under federal law) children. The bill also rescinds certain funding for the agencies responsible for the report for each day that a report is late. Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation must jointly report to Congress every 60 days on such children that have been in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) since January 1, 2021, and have been released to a parent, family member, or sponsor within the United States. This report must provide each child’s age, sex, location, and detail the child’s health and well-being. Additionally, the report must provide specified information about adults living in the child’s home, such as whether adults in the home have been subject to a fingerprint-based check of national crime information databases. The report must also specify the number of children that ORR has tried to contact without success on at least three separate attempts. The report must be provided for up to three years or until all of the specified children have been accounted for.  The bill also rescinds certain funding from HHS, DHS, and the FBI for each day that a report is late. Up to $10 million may be rescinded from each agency for each fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHR 5314, the Freedom From Union Violence Act of 2023, amends federal law to criminalize certain acts of violence or threats during labor disputes that obstruct commerce. It makes it a federal crime to use violence or threats to interfere with commerce, with penalties up to $100,000 fines or 20 years in prison, but exempts peaceful picketing and minor incidents like minor property damage. The bill directs state and local authorities to handle cases involving exempt conduct, while preserving federal jurisdiction for serious violence beyond those exemptions. It explicitly states this amendment does not change existing labor laws like the National Labor Relations Act or the Norris-LaGuardia Act. The bill directly affects labor disputes where violence or threats occur, focusing on criminalizing serious interference with commerce.

Maddy summaryHR 5319, the Ban Offshore Abortion Tourism Act, prohibits performing abortions that result in fetal death within U.S. maritime jurisdiction (e.g., international waters under U.S. authority). It targets abortion providers in these zones, with exceptions for life-threatening medical conditions, pregnancies from rape (requiring 48 hours of counseling or treatment first), or pregnancies from rape/incest involving minors (requiring prior reporting to authorities). The bill allows civil lawsuits against providers for violations, awarding triple damages, medical costs, and attorney fees, but explicitly protects women from prosecution or financial liability. It does not restrict abortion access in foreign countries or U.S. territorial waters.

Maddy summaryHJRES 85 is a resolution seeking congressional disapproval of a rule issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on small business lending under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). The rule, published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2023, would have required lenders to follow specific procedures to ensure equal credit access for small businesses. If passed, this resolution would nullify the rule, preventing it from taking effect and removing the associated requirements for lenders. The rule directly affected small business lenders and borrowers by potentially altering how credit decisions were made for small business loans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy for scanning all incoming mail at federal prisons to stop fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from entering facilities. It directs the Bureau to evaluate existing scanning technology within 180 days and submit a detailed plan to Congress within 90 days, including how to provide digital copies of mail to inmates within 24 hours and physical copies within 30 days (if safe). The strategy must achieve 100% mail scanning capacity at all federal prisons, prioritize high-security facilities, and include a budget proposal for fiscal years 2024-2026. This directly affects federal prisons, inmates, and Bureau employees by changing mail processing procedures to enhance safety and reduce staffing burdens from manual mail checks.

Maddy summaryHR 5194, the "YOU'RE FIRED Act," blocks federal funding for the salary of John Luman Smith, who serves as Special Counsel for the Department of Justice. The bill directly affects only this individual by prohibiting the use of taxpayer money to pay his position. It contains no broader policy changes or mechanisms, as it is a targeted procedural measure restricting funding for one specific federal employee. The bill's title uses an acronym for emphasis but does not alter any substantive law or affect other individuals or programs.

Maddy summaryHR 5195, the Seat of Government Act, repeals the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This repeal would eliminate the District of Columbia's authority to govern itself on local matters, ending the system of elected mayors and city councils. Residents of Washington, D.C. would directly lose their current local government structure and self-governance powers. The bill removes the foundational law enabling D.C.'s home rule without specifying alternative governance mechanisms.